Syracuse has no more Old Country Buffet restaurants, but there's new hope for the chain

Rogelio Solis / APCentral New York fans of Old Country Buffet miss being able to load up their plates with a variety of food, from a salad bar to a dessert bar.

SYRACUSE, NY -- For those of you who miss the Old Country Buffet chain in Central New York, an update. Read on...

From Nation's Restaurant News:

Buffets To Exit Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

EAGAN, Minn. -- Buffets Holdings Inc. said Friday it had received court approval for its reorganization plans and expects to soon emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Buffets, the parent of 536 restaurants operating under the brands Old Country Buffet, Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet, Ryan's and Fire Mountain Grill and Tahoe Joe's, filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in January. It had struggled with decreasing sales and a large debt burden from the $876 million acquisition of the Ryan's chain in 2006.

"We will emerge a stronger and more financially secure enterprise," said Mike Andrews, Buffets' chief executive, "and we look forward to building on the groundwork laid by our approved plan of reorganization by continuing to improve our operations and invest in our business."

Buffets also said last week that it will debut a new prototype for its Old Country Buffet chain in Colorado Springs, Colo., this summer.

The new design includes a display grill, an exhibition-style cooking station, a market-themed interior, a streetscape and serving areas separated into cultural cuisines as well as food groups. For example, it will have a bakery, salad bar, and Italian and Mexican food stations.

The two Old Country Buffet restaurants that remained in Onondaga County split just over a year ago, when the company first compressed as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. CNY fans still miss the chain and its wide variety of food. Many just miss having ANY kind of buffet restaurant option.

Just so you know, there are a few Old Country Buffet restaurants still operating in New York state. One is in Stone Ridge Plaza in Rochester. Others are in the Buffalo and Albany markets, as well as Vestal (near Binghamton) and Elmira.

Even with the company emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, I wouldn't expect any OCBs to re-open here. I think the company will concentrate right now on its core stores and keeping its finances in shape.

I do, however, find that new Old Country Buffet prototype interesting. It sounds a bit like the buffet restaurant at Turning Stone.

On to...

You:

* nedrow42 comments, "I find it interesting that you listed yet another Quiznos that has been closed down recently here in the Syracuse area. I can think of at least four now that have closed in less than four years; Crouse Avenue near Adams Street, Camillus, North Syracuse, and the Cicero location you mentioned. Why a store that is advertising so heavily on TV in this area is closing stores so rapidly is a little puzzling. Does anyone know of any new locations they have opened in the past several years that remain? They seem to be following the same trend of Schlotzky's or Boston Market; open a ton of locations, run lots of advertising, then close the locations even faster."

Agreed. And here are a couple of other takes:

* acknight comments, "Nedrow42: From reports around the Web, there are many ongoing feuds between Quiznos corporate and their franchisees -- most recently surrounding their free sub promotion. From the sounds of it, Quiznos corporate can make it really hard to succeed as a franchisee, and these places are getting out as soon as they're hitting the end of their leases. On the other hand, both locations on Erie (one in ShoppingTown) are still doing fine, from the sounds of things. Dunno which other ones are left."

* izzzalot comments,"Nedrow: I've heard the same things that acknight has heard. A Quiznos franchisee in the Binghamton area indicated that he couldn't afford to stay with Quiznos, and Quiznos wouldn't let him operate another franchise at his location, so he was forced to close. In addition, a lot of the marketing we see today is national. I see quite a few Sonic commercials, and while one is under construction in Binghamton, it's still not open and I still can't go for Happy Hour. Same with CiCi's, a lot of commercials, but still no talk of a location."

And that's a source of frustration for a lot of people. They see the commercials and get excited, believing the chain is suddenly going to materialize here overnight. The reality is these companies are buying national spots. Compared to only a few years ago, media ad rates are crazy cheap. Companies that managed to stay well-heeled coming into and during this recession are snapping up the media bargains. Plus, the media market saturation gets the name out there. Even if a Sonic or CiCi's isn't in your market, when you're out traveling, you'll see that name and be familiar with it.

* hoffmalr comments, "There's a Quiznos on 57 next to Herb Phillipson's. They've been there at least two years (how long I've been here), but I'm not sure how much longer before that. They never look too busy, but they're still open."

* g7mch comments, "I'll mostly agree tinnokkrskid... but Sundays can be long waits to get food (which is just typical breakfasty foods?) and they run out of oatmeal requently. Just my gripe, but i do like the food."

*** The next edition of the free Store Front e-Newsletter is in production for delivery Wednesday to all Friends of Store Front. Become a Friend. Click here, send the e-mail, wait for an e-mail reply, ship that back and you're on the list.